High and low water alarm apparatus.



A. R. WALLS. I HIGH AND LOW WATER ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED HAY 11 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Aura R.WalZs,

A. R. WALLS. HIGH AND LOW WATER ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED m 11. 1910.

1,027,299. PatentedMay21, 1912. I Mums-sum 2.

l8 l7 s WW 321MB. Walls,

COLUMBIA PLANOdkAl-u 60-.WMHINGTON. DC.

AURA B. WALLS, or GYPSY, wnsr VIRGINIA.

HIGH AND LOW WATER ALARM APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Application filed. May 11, 1910. Serial No. 560,735.

Water Alarm Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an alarm apparatus deslgned for use 1nconnection with steam boilers and the like for sounding a warning whenthe level reaches a predetermined high or low point.

The invention has for one of itsobjects to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to becomparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable andeflicient in use, and readily adaptable for boilers already in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel alarm deviceincluding an expansive element, which changes its dimensions withvariations in temperature so that the movement thereof can be utilizedin opening or closing an alarm circuit.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully describedhereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appendedhereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of theinvention:Fi-gure 1 is a side elevation of the complete low and highwater alarm apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of thethermostatic circuit closing devices. Fig. 3 is a vertical sect-iontaken through the thermostatic elements of the alarm device. Fig. 1 is adetail view of one of the fixed contacts.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates an ordinary water column, whichhas connections 1 and 2 at its ends whereby connection is establishedwith the boiler and at the upper and lower ends of this column'are highand low water alarm devices B and G, which cause the alarm to be soundedor energized when the water in the boiler reaches a predetermined highpoint or a predetermined low point.

Each alarm device is of the thermostatic type and consists, as shownmore particularly in Fig. 2, of ahollow base or fitting 1, which has athreaded nipple 2 to screw into the side of the water column A andcommunicating with the chamber 3 of the body 1 are two upright tubes 4that have a comparatively high co-efliciency of expansion, and the upperends of these tubes are connected together by a hollow head or casting5. On the body 1 isa laterally projecting plate or bracket 6 on which ismounted a vertical supporting rod or standard 7 that has fulcrumed on'its upper end a lever 8 which is hingedly connected by the pivot bolt 9with the head 5 so that as the expandible element, formed by the tubes4:, lengthens and shortens, the lever 8 will swing up and down. On thestandard 7 is clamped a bracket 10 on which is fulcrumed at 11 a lever12 that has one end connected by a link 13 with the outer end of thelever 8. These levers serve to multiply the movement of the expansive orthermostatic element of the device and also to transmit the movement tothe movable element of a circuit closer, designated generally by a. Thecircuit closer comprises a metallic standard or post 14 which isfastened in but insulated from the bracket portion 6 of the base land onthis post are adjustably fixed contacts 15 and 15 Movable between andadapted to engage either contact is a swing ing contact 16 that isfulcrumed at 17 on a bracket 18 clamped to the standard 7 This movablecontact 16 is connected by a pitman 19 with the inner end of the lever12, and the lower end of the pitman being adjustably connected with themovable contact. This contact has a longitudinal slot 20 through whichpasses a pin or bolt 21 on the pitman 19, the slot being necessary topermit the contact to swing as the pitman 19 moves up and down. On thebase 1 is a binding post .22 for connecting one side 23 of the electriccircuit to the thermostatic alarm device, and the other side 24 of thecircuit is connected to the lower end of the contact post 14,-, whichlower end constitutes a binding post. The circuit includes a source ofcurrent such as a battery 25 and a bell or othersignal 26.

The fittings or bases 1 of the devices B and C can be connected by atube or'gage glass 27.

The upper device B will be so set that the alarm will be sounded whenwater rises to such a point to cool the thermostatic element of suchdevice, while the lower device C will be so set that when thethermostatic element thereof is heated by steam, the alarm connected bysuch device will be energized. lVhen the water in the column A fallsbelow the nipple 2, steam will enter the thermostatic element of thealarm device C and cause such element to expand. As a result the outerend of the lever will swing downwardly and operate through the link 13to raise the inner end of the lever 12, that in turn operates throughthe link 19 to raise the movable contact 16 into engagement with theupper fixed contact 15 The circuit will now be completed through thewire 23, fitting 1, the metallic parts such as the standard 7, thebracket, levers and links, movable contact 16, fixed contacts 15*,postli, wire 21, bell 26 and battery The attendant will thus be warnedthat the water is dangerously low and that the conditions must bechanged. As soon as the water rises in the boiler, the steam will be cutoff from the thermostatic element of the lower device C so that the saidelement can contract and thus move the contact element- 16 to opencircuit position. I11 the upper circuit closing device B, the steam isnormally contained in the thermostatic tubes 4 and when these tubes areexpanded, the contact element 16 is in open circuit position. Vhen thewater rises to a point that the steam will be cut oli' from the tubes atof the upper device, such tubes will contract and thereby cause themovable contact element 1G to engage the lower fixed contact 15, therebycompleting the signal circuit and warning the attendant that the waterlevel has reached the maximum high point.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method ofoperation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates, and while I have described the principle ofoperation of the invention, together with the device which I nowconsider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that suchchanges may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Anapparatus of the class described comprising a base support forming acoupling, a hollow expansible element mechanically connected with thesupport and communicating with the interior thereof to be subjected tothe temperature of the fluid in the coupling, a contact device mountedon the base support for connection with an alarm circuit, means forconnecting the support with the alarm circuit, and a structure directlymounted on the support between the said element and contact device foropening and closing the alarm circuit by the expansion and contractionof the said element, said structure comprising a standard fixed at itslower end on the said support, a lever fulcrumed on the upper end of thestandard and connected with the said element, an arm mounted on thestandard. a lever on the arm, a connection between the said levers, aswinging contact mounted on the standard to engage the contact devicefor opening and closing the alarm circuit, and a connection between thesecond-mentioned lever and swinging contact.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AURA R. \VALLS.

\Vitnesses J. C. HUNSAKER, B. L. DUTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

